The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-09-03

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with no thought at the moment of the posi- |
ton She really coveted for her beautiful
child.
| The proud dark eyes had never dropped |
no flush had stained the perfect face.
yes" the girl had answered quietly, Il
believe ann" but Mrs Despard knew ar
that moment that the crown of woman's
life, perfect love for home and husband, |
would not rest on Cletas brow.
But after all, what did passionate love
ever bring but pain and heartache. yet who !
would not suffer something for its sweet |
ness sakel
Then Lillian, the baby of the family, had
come home; Lillian with a face like now-
er, eyes of pansy blue and clustering golden
hair; but God knows, as the bright DAYS
| flew by, Gordon Leslie never dreamed what
made them SO strangely bright to him, bright
as no other days had beon-neyer dreamed
that in his Utmost heart he was false to the
beautiful girl who had promised to be his
wife, never dreamed that a childish face,
CLINT of golden hair, the glance of eyes of
pansy blue, had become as the light Of
heaven to him.
The fatal truth had never dawncd upon
him till one summer day All, that day
Would he ever forget it while life lasted
That day when he, Gordon Leslie, had for
gotten honor AMI all else in the madness of
a moment of awakened love.
He and Lillian had been out together,and
they had climbed a cliff that lay below the
Despard homestead. lie meyer could tell
after how it happened, only Lillan's foot
had slipped on stone; and as her foot
turned under her, a low cry of pain broke
from her lips, and she would haye fallen
had Gordon not caught her in his arms and
then, with his arms around her, her white
face dropping on his shoulder, he truth
flashed over Gordon Leslie. and he knew he
loved Lillian Despard with all the passion
of his heart
In the madness Of the moment he bent
his head and kissed her lips.
'My darling my daringr' he cried
y swift wave Of crimson swept over Lii
lian's pale face and the blue eyes grew full
of nameless terror
Then memory came back to Gordon Les
lie and he could have flung himself at her
feet.
''Do not look at me like that" he cried.
Lillian, | was mad Lillanw
For a moment the blue eyes looked into
his, and then the girl burst into "a passion
of tears. and Gordon Leslie realized that
Lillian had learned the fatal lesson as well.
\ bitter scorn Of himself came over Cor
don Leslie and a passionate pity for the
childish girl who chung to him in tears
There was no use in Disgusting the truth,
they loyed each other.
He took her hands in his.
"Lilian," he said, "thc blame is mine.
| have been a coward and traitor"
Her only answer was another burst Of
tears.
For our folly We must suffer- he con
tinued slowly, and perhaps we can atone
for this, on my part at least. forgcDfulness
Of honor and duty"
And after that they did try 10 be true to
honor and Cleta, but li.lIan's wild-rose face
grew strangely pale, and dark rings that
spoke of sleepless nights encircled the pan
e sy eyes till, at length, her mother noticed
the change.
''You had better take hel abroad thc
J doctor said, "a complete change viii be the
best medicine for her
d Very gladly Lillian consented She
r would die If sheremaincd near Gordon Les
Il lie-Gordon Leslie who had grown so
strangely worn and haggard Of late.
r So Lillian went abroad with her mother,
c and left Gordon to fight the bitterest battle
y man ever fought--lcft him TO wage war
u with his own heart.
5 Had Cleta Despard loved Gordon Leslie,
n her own heart would have told her the
truth, for what loving woman is there that
I reads not, through her own love- the depths
of her lovers affection, but calm-eyed aud
G serene Cleta went on her way, and never
s dreamed Of the fiery furnace through which
Gordon Leslie and her petted sister were
d passing.
So the bright summer passed away aud
Il then kind fate took up the tangled thread
of their lives, when one day stranger,
Il bronzed and brown, stood before Cleta Dcs-
= pard.
s. 4 stranger Only for a moment, and
Is then. white and wld-eyed, she sprung tC
d her feet, her slender form trembling, look
Of passionate pain darkening her eyes.
h rs this my welcome after all these
7 years?" he said. "Cleta, my darling, hayc
d 1 frightened you? Cleta, what does thi.
d mean?' for with low, bitter cry she
turned from him and sank on her knees ,hel
white face buried in her hands.
Is She asked no questions Nothing Of hi,
g long absence and utter suence Only one
e thought came to her-he had come back.
: '"Too late Too laler she cried.
lie heard her words.
II may go as | came,' he said, "but AZ
ter all these years, captive among sayages
: dreaming of you and the past, hoping
IS against hope that might escape, and ther
to come back TO this. Clcia, it is mor'
Il than can bear"
d And It was then that fate was wondroui
y kind, and led Gordon Leslie on the scene.
Inc scehe tolu lta own 'tol 1-" "Hi"i
IS kneeling in q passionate ABANDON Of pain
a her white face hidden in her hands, mag
It standing looking NJ her, his very soul in hi
eyes.
l. "Am intruding" Gordon said haught
n ily, as Cleta sprung TO her feet, her heay!
'r hair, loosened from lis coil, falling in way!
n masses around her.
sr In that moment her resolution was tax
ie en-.
$ She gave no thought then 10 the wealtl
n and nosillnn of Gnrdnn Ieslie no ihnnnh